Virginia Commonwealth University: Student Government Officials Allegedly Steal Campus Newspapers Over Critical Coverage

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Virginia Commonwealth University: Student Government Officials Allegedly Steal Campus Newspapers Over Critical Coverage

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Virginia Commonwealth University

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Case Overview

FIRE Victory closed

Members of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Student Government Association, including its president, were seen taking or trashing copies of the school paper, The Commonwealth Times, on February 26, 2020 — the same day as a front-page story detailing SGA members’ infighting. ��֭��, joined by the Student Press Law Center, wrote to SGA president Breanna Harmon on March 4, 2020, explaining that seizing and destroying student newspapers because of critical coverage violates the First Amendment. Specifically, FIREreminded Harmon and SGA that VCU is legally bound to uphold its students’ right to a free press.

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